Improvement in iron fences



2 Shee ts--Sheet l. L. WA L KER.

B. G. DEVDE & w.

Iron-Fences.

Patented Bec. 22,1874;

UNMED STATES PATENT Qrrron BENJAMIN G. DEVOE AND WILLIAM L. WALKEB, OF KENTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN IRON FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,047, dater] December 22, 1874; application filed April 21, 1874.

T0 all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN G. Dnvon and WILLIAM L. WALKER, of Kenton, in the county of Hardin and btate of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefnl Improvements in Iron Fences, of which the following is a specification Our invention consists, 'first, in certain d'evices for uniting, supporting, and adj usting iron fences; and our invention consists, secondly, in arranging the ornamental portions constituting the fence in such manner as to adapt them to any surface, and so that all the parts are held firmly in position without the use of bolts or similar fastenings.

But that onr invention may be fnlly understood, we Will describe the same in detail by aid of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view on a level, and Fig. 2 a similar view on an incline, of a part of a fence embodying onr improvements; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the T or cross rail, showing the attachment of ornamental parts by means of the ornamental clamp; Fig. 4, a perspective view of base, with an upright and T- rails attached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pickets; and Figs. 6, 7,and 8 are detail views of parts of the fence.

A is the base, cast in one piece, and provided with a base-plate, (L, and a top plate, et and strengthening-ribs a as shown in section, Fig. 4. This portion, np to the top plate a is under ground, and the top plate et rest-s on the surface of the gronnd. The top plate a has an upright p..t*.c, a", formed thereon, and forms an inverted T. This plate a is provided With two longitudinal slots, a a The upright or post B is secured to this top plate by means of a bolt and nut or set-screw, b passing through the post B and the slot a in the plate (15. The lower portion of the post or upright B has a projection or fiange, b, formcd at right angles to such post B, and et the same length as the Width between the plates a and a and the outer end of this projection is bent round and projects under the plate (0, thus forming a clamp, as shown at 11 Fig. 4 and this clamp serves to hold the upright or post B firmly in position. The post or upright B is further secured by means of a brace, 1), one end of which is fastened to the plate (6 by a boit or set-screw justing of the base,

passing through such brace I) and the longitudinal slot 0L and the other end 1s fastened to the post B by a similar bolt or set-screw, as

shown by Fig. 4. The braoe b* and the longitudinal slots a* a serve to adj ust the fence and keep it in line by moving the post and brace either backward or forward, as may be required, thereby obviating the moving or adalways attended with mach labor and anuoyance. 0 is the cross or horizontal rail, rolled in the shape of a letter T.- T0 the vertical front or face plate 0 the pickets D and ornamental portions E are secured, as more fully explained hereafter. The

back plate 0 has its rear edge formed round and enlarged, somewhat like a railroad-rail, as shown by Fig. 3, so as to give it additional strength and rigidity. F is a clamp or clip, by means of which two cross or horizontal T- rails, 0, are clamped together when it is re qnired to run the fence at right angles or join two sections of T-rails. This clamp is provided With projections f f, forming jaws, between which the back plate 0 of the T-rail 0 is firmly secnred by means of bolts or setscrews f (Sec Figs. 4, 6, and 7.) The shank or projection f of the clamp or clip F has a longitudinal slot, f formed therein for the passage of the upright or post B and the wedge or key f, by means of which the horizontal T-rails 0 are keyed securely to such upright B. The slotf in the shank f et the clamp or clip F has its sides formed round, so as to allow the Trails to be inclined either way, in order to adjnst them to any grade.

By these means the horizontal T- rails 0 are inade adjustable on the post B; (sec Figs. 4, 6, and 7 and, instead of the wedge or keyfl, set-screws may be used, if desired.

D D are vertical pickets, cast hollow and V-shaped, and are provided with fiat or trancated faces 01 and fianges d. The flanges d rest against the horizontal T-rails C, and are held in position by means of the ornamental portions E and ornamental clamps G, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 8. The ornamental parts E are so constructed that their side arms or portions e form circles or segments of circles, and are provided on their rear faces With loops 6 of the same shape as the inner side of the pickets D, so that the ornamental parts may be slipped over snch pickcts D, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. 011e or more of these loops may be formed on the rear faces of such ornamental parts, above and below the horizontal T-rail, according to the height of the pickets and 01- namental parts. The difl'erent segments of circles are connected togethcr by braces or cross-pieces c fitting over the outside of the pickets D, by forming snob braces of the shape of the outside of such pickets; or the ornamental parts E may be caused to rest against the fiat or truncated surfaces 01 of such pickets. The ornamental parts E and pickets D are held in position and firmly secured to the horizontal T-rails O by means of ornamental clamps G, the latral sides 9 of which also form circles or segments of circles, t0 correspond With the circles or segments of circles of the ornamental parts E, though other forms may be employed. The upper and lower portions 9 of the clamps G are provided With lugs or projections, bent round in such manner as to fit oveband clasp the vertical face 0 of the horizontal T-rail G, Figs. 3 and S, and by means of these clamps the pickets D and ornamental parts E are securely held in position on the horizontal T-rails 0, the arms or segments 6 of the ornamental parts E being held by the laceral segmental sides 9 of the clamps G, snch clamps being slipped onto the rails 0 from the end of such rail.

By forming the arms or sides 6 of the ornamental parts E and ornamental clamps G of circles or segments of circles, the fence may be adjusted to any level, as the pickets D and ornamental parts E can be inclined either to right or left, according to the radius of the segments, as plainly shown by Fig. 2.

The pickets D and rails 0 may be made of rolled iron, and the ornamental clamps G may be made of stamped wrought-iron or malleable iron, and the plate a may be cast in one piece With the base A, as described; or such plate a may be of wrought-iron, riveted or otherwise affixed to the base A.

Having described our invention, what we claim is In metallic fences, the ornamental portions E, the lateral sides e of which form circles or segments of circles, and provided on their rear faces With loops or braces 6, for the purpose of holding the pickets D, in combination With such pickets D, T- rails C, and the ornamental clamp or clip G, the lateral sides 9 of Which also form circles or segments of circles, thereby making the ornamental parts E and pickets D adjustable to all grades, substantially as shown and described.

A. M. DAVIS, E. M. PINNEY. 

